Mitochondria are an integral part of our make-up and we would not survive without them. Unfortunately, these delicate organelles are easily damaged by exposure to toxins and free radical production.

Mitochondria are an integral part of our make-up and we would not survive without them. Unfortunately, these delicate organelles are easily damaged by exposure to environmental toxins and excessive free radical production. In addition, dietary deficiencies or genetic mutations can also disrupt their functioning. Because they self-replicate, defective mitochondria can end up making more defective mitochondria. Widespread mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with numerous degenerative health conditions and other ailments of modern life. MitoQ can penetrate mitochondria and accumulates inside at concentrations several hundred-fold higher than in the blood. MitoQ helps protect your body against oxidative stress and supports the body’s natural resilience when taken in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Mitochondria are free-floating, bean-shaped organelles that live in almost every cell of our body. They generate more than 90% of the energy needed by our bodies to sustain life and promote growth. Cells that require the most energy - such as those in the brain, heart, skeletal muscles, and the eye - contain the most mitochondria.

Besides converting the food we eat and the air we breathe into fuel in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), mitochondria are also involved in the manufacture of DNA, haemoglobin, oestrogen and testosterone. They help metabolize cholesterol and produce antioxidants such as coenzyme Q10 which neutralize free radicals and decrease oxidative stress. They are the only separate structure in the cell to have their own DNA which gives them the ability to self-replicate and increase their numbers if the cell requires more energy, such as during growth or intense exercise. Mitochondria also help the cell perform specialized functions, for example, mitochondria in liver cells allow the cell to breakdown toxic ammonia into harmless urea which is then excreted. Amazingly, mitochondrial duties change as we develop from embryo to adult, and our tissues grow, mature, and adapt to the postnatal environment.

Mitochondria are such an integral part of our make-up that we wouldn’t survive without them. The Mitochondrial Free Radical Theory of Ageing (MFRTA) suggests that longevity comes down to well-performing mitochondria and well-controlled rates of free radical production. Support for this theory is found in studies on long-lived animals which show low rates of free radical production and mitochondrial and cellular membranes relatively resistant to free radical attack. The MFRTA offers an explanation for longevity variation among different animal species that is not related to size, shape, or cognitive ability.

But how easy is it for mitochondria to malfunction? Unfortunately, relatively easy. Environmental toxins such as pollution, industrial chemicals, cigarette smoke, and UV radiation also damage delicate mitochondria. Diets deficient in certain vitamins or minerals or high in trans fats, sugar, burnt or processed meats increase free radical production and exhaust our natural antioxidant supply. Free radicals left to roam freely steal electrons off the next closest stable molecule in their vicinity, damaging its molecular structure. This may be a fat molecule making up double membrane of the mitochondria or part of the mitochondrial DNA. Initially, damage may be minimal but because mitochondria can self-replicate, defective mitochondria end up making even more defective mitochondria. Symptoms start to become more apparent, with the first usually being a loss of energy as ATP production is compromised. Hundreds of other vital cellular processes are also disrupted and eventually cells die. Our bodies enter a state of oxidative stress and symptoms become more widespread, as the disruption starts to impact on the functioning of our brain, liver, heart, kidney, and several other organs. Whole body systems, such as our immune system, are also affected.

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